The influence of the menstrual period on the effects of pain, disability and modulation of pain in young women

Abstract

Introduction: Menstruation is an event that marks the lives of women, and its first episode, the menarche, represents the beginning of the reproductive phase. Premenstrual and physical changes affect women during their reproductive life, the luteal phase and pre-menstrual symptoms are correlated, including headaches, cramps, irritability, decreased concentration, depression and anxiety. Objective: To relate the symptoms of pain and headache and changes in cervical mobility with the menstrual period in young university students. Method: This is a Prospective Quantitative Experimental Study that used Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) to assess pain intensity; Midas questionnaire to assess disability due to headache; Algometry to assess pressure pain threshold; Conditional Modulation of Pain to assess pain inhibitory pathways; Start Back Screening Tool Questionnaire to assess the presence of psychosocial factors in pain; Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire to assess presence of dizziness; Tampa scale to evaluate Kinesiophobia; Neck Disability Index Questionnaire to assess cervical disability in ADLs and the Flexion Rotation Test to assess cervical high ROM. Results: The Midas questionnaire presented an increasing number of mild to moderate disability, along with the Tampa scale for kinesiophobia. Despite these results, the interviewees showed no signs of dizziness, psychosocial factors, restriction of cervical and nociceptive ROM. Conclusion: Up to the present time, the evaluated girls did not demonstrate significant influence of the menstrual period on the amplification of pain, headache and the possible incapacity caused by them.